I started painting and drawing as early as I can remember, doing small art presentations and messing around with the visual language of abstract art. But in my 20’s I gave it up.  As much as I loved it, I didn’t think it could be a career.  How would I support myself?  Did I really have the natural creative eye or skillset?  Was I good enough?  No one taught me that if you could work hard at something, especially something creative, you could succeed at it.  I was never encouraged past those moments.  Growing in my art wasn’t an option.  What I was saying in my art didn’t - and couldn’t- matter to anyone other than me. 

So I left it behind.  I tried multiple careers that never felt like a fit.  I kept shifting, searching for something that clicked.  Then, during the pandemic, I picked it back up again.  I suddenly felt what I had been missing since I had abandoned my art and tumbled back into love with it, full force. 

And now I can’t do without it.